Leicester

Leicester's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and religion.

The population reached nearly 330,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Leicester increased by 18%, from almost 280,000 to 330,000.

The addition of almost 50,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the East Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Leicester was home to, on average, 32 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the East Midlands' most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Leicester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Leicester decreased by one year, from 32 to 31 years.

This urban area had the second-lowest average age in the East Midlands and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 17,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by almost 400.

About 20% of people in Leicester are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Leicester

In 2011, 51% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 64% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Leicester.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of residents from the White ethnic groups fell from 93% to 89%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

Around 37% of people in Leicester said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 30% in 2001. About 6.2% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from 3.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) rose from 2.3% to 3.5% between the last two censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Leicester decreased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Leicester that rented privately increased from 13% to 23% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in four (25%) households lived in social housing, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of Leicester households that owned their home decreased from 58% to 50%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the East Midlands. As a result, this area had the region’s second highest proportion of privately rented homes.

Nottingham had the East Midlands' highest proportion of privately rented homes (23%), while Lincoln had the region's third highest proportion (21%).

Private renting in Leicester increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Leicester, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Leicester

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 24% said they had no religion. An increase from 19% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Leicester.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 17% to 29%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 34% of those who disclosed their religion in Leicester said they were Christian, down from 48% in 2001. About 20% said they were Muslim, up from 12% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who described themselves as Hindu rose from 16% to 16% between the last two censuses.

In Leicester, 5.9% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In East Midlands the percentage was 7.2% and across England the percentage was 7.6%.

The population without a religion in Leicester increased by 5.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Living alone in Leicester

Leicester saw the East Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30%) households in Leicester had only one person, compared with 33% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.0% to 8.5%.

Across the region, Nottingham saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of one-person households (from 38% in 2001 to 36% in 2011).

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Leicester saw the East Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56%) households in Leicester had no children, compared with 59% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child remained close to 33%.

Across the region, Oadby and Wigston saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of households without children (from 59% in 2001 to 57% in 2011).

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Leicester

The proportion of married people fell in Leicester, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the East Midlands.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

Across the East Midlands, the proportion of married people fell from 53% to 49% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Oadby and Wigston (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Leicester) fell from 56% to 52%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Leicester working less than 16 hours increased from 2.1% to 4.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 9.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.8% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Leicester increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Leicester, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Leicester

Leicester saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 19 (5.3%) in Leicester reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.0% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.6% to 4.1%.

Across the region, only Derby (from 7.3% to 6.3%) and South Derbyshire (from 8.0% to 7.3%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Leicester residents that were studying increased from 3.9% to 5.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (47%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 48% in 2001. The percentage of Leicester residents that were unemployed increased from 4.9% to 6.2%.

The proportion of students increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Leicester increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Leicester, the East Midlands and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Leicester residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.3% to 2.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, 1.7% of reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Leicester remained close to 2.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Leicester residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10% to 6.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Leicester residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Leicester decreased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Leicester, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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